BB/SFKK Trip Idea - is it worth it?

amnesiac · #1 06-26-2007, 12:15 PM

I am thinking about taking a trip on a weekend in July and wanted some input. Do you think it is worth it to drive 3 hours saturday morning to Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom for the day (including checking out the waterpark) staying in a hotel and then driving 2 hours to Beech Bend the next day and then sometime that evening drive the total 5 hours back home? I've never been to either of these parks and want to do something new (I've been to Kings Island and Holiday World). Also, how much is parking at SFKK? Any oter thoughts/ideas/places to stay/anything at all? ANy help would be much appreciated. Thanks!

**Wes** · #2 06-26-2007, 01:35 PM

This is my opinion...(waits for the fanboys to attack) and as such is just that, an opinion.

SFKK - By far is the worst of the 4 Six Flags I've visited. On my 2005 visit half of the place looked like it had been deserted, it was run down, all the paint on the buildings were faded, etc. The only really great coasters there in my opinion are Greezed Lightning and Chang (I couldn't fit Thunder Run because of the goofy belts).

Beech Bend - OK, the place is like someone said "Hey! I know, we'll just take my backyard and setup a permanent carnival!". It's very "travel model" friendly. That being said, Kentucky Rumbler is a great GCII coaster and well worth the drive. SFKK, not so much IMO.

amnesiac · #3 06-26-2007, 04:52 PM

Yea, Kentucky Rumbler is what I am most excited about but I also wanted to check out the new water coaster at SFKK's waterpark, as I have never been on a water coaster and have been dying to try one out.

SheikraTTD · #4 06-26-2007, 04:59 PM

I went to SFKK last May and, like Wes said it isn't good enough to drive 3 hours for. I only went because I was going to HW and stopped in Louisville. Chang is ok but definitely not great as Wes said. Greezed Lightnin' is a really fun coaster but again not great. T2 is the worst coaster I have ever ridden. Hands down the most headbanging ever on a ride. And there is no atmosphere there at all. The employees don't care, trash everywhere.
If I were you, I would drive to Chicago for SFGAm or Drive to Pittsburgh for Kennywood. SFKK is just not worth the long drive.

**Wes** · #5 06-26-2007, 09:04 PM

^ I can agree with that as well. Kennywood is a 100x better than SFKK.

Thunderbolt and Phantom alone are worth the drive.

**Brian F** · #6 06-27-2007, 02:11 AM

The last time I was there (seven years ago) it was a nice park. I don't know if I'd want to drive 3 hours for it, but i sure didn't mind driving 2.

Keep in mind that 7 years ago, SFKK was just a couple of years into Six Flags ownership, so a lot of the general neglect that goes with Six Flags hadn't taken a foothold yet.

Chang was awesome then. I fear that by now, it may be nothing more than Mantis with an extra inversion.

T2 was great (if you listen carefully, you can hear all of the bandwagoners hitting the "quote" button right now)

Thunder run was also a great ride. I never expect much from Dinn coasters, but it was very good.

Twisted Twins was OK. It was Twisted Sisters back then, before Dee Snider decided that he could actually get his name in print again, and maybe even a paycheck again.

Again, that was before Six Flags maintenance had really had a chance to do their thing to the park. These days, I wouldn't expect much from the place, and I would have said that before the girl lost her feet.

steel · #7 06-27-2007, 09:22 AM

No, that's definitely not worth it at all. SFKK is barely even worth its credits.

boiiinng · #8 06-27-2007, 04:44 PM

Never been to BB yet, but I will eventually.

As for SFKK, Chang is great, better than Mantis now. Mantis I fear is beyond it's smooth riding days. Chang still delivers.

The wave pool at the waterpark is the fiercest one I've ever been in. Literal oceanic turbulence there. And they run it more often than most parks, I barely had a chance to catch my breath and we were off to the races again.

The woodies are quite good, too, at least something to experience once as a coaster freak.

T2 should be torn down. Period.

And you can probably find some discounted slips at a local grocery or something for $25/per person up to 6 people so in case it's not your cup of tea, you haven't really spent anything to get in. They've done that for the past two years.

steel · #9 06-27-2007, 06:42 PM

Beech Bend really isn't anything special either. Rumbler is pretty good, but it's not anywhere near as good as other GCIs (namely Renegade). Other than that, it's basically a glorified carnival. Also, if you do go, you'll want to ride Looping Star for the credit. In fact, you probably won't be able to resist getting in line. It's part of being an enthusiast. Unfortunately, Looping Star (along with T2) is nothing but a mess of jarring turns and headbanging. So really, if you go to Beech Bend, you're putting yourself at risk of wiplash.

amnesiac · #10 06-28-2007, 10:47 PM

Thanks for the advice everyone. I know quality beats quantity everytime so I was thinking of changing my plans to possibly Holiday World and Beech Bend but we'll see. I really want to hit up some new parks this summer but I want to have a good time, especially if I have to spend a lot of money to go.

steel · #11 06-28-2007, 11:17 PM

Go ahead and go to KK if you want. Just don't try to spend an entire day there. I would recommend doing KK and HW in a day, then spending the next morning at BB before driving home.

amnesiac · #12 06-28-2007, 11:20 PM

How are the crowds on a saturday at KK? Is it possible to hit up all of the coasters in a few hours?

steel · #13 06-28-2007, 11:54 PM

We got all of them (including Rollerskater and a ride on Superman) done in about three hours, but that was on a Thursday. I don't think you should have much of a problem finishing up in four hours.

**Brian F** · #14 06-29-2007, 02:30 AM

Unfortuantely, I wouldn't expect big crowds at KK these days.

Nitro Luvr · #15 06-29-2007, 06:17 AM

SFKK is not one of Six Flags true anchor parks, so don't expect it to measure up to places like SFMM and SFGAdv. I like to compare it to Dorney Park. Does not have the best coasters in the world there, but it IS worth a visit at least once in your life. So if you have not been there, I suggest you go. But don't plan multiple days there. The park can be covered in half a day... including weekends.